Combination lock



Oct. 5, 1965 K. LANGREHR 3,209,567

COMBINATION LOCK Filed July 50, 1962 AM M United States Patent 14Claims. (01. 70-420 This invention relates to a combination lock with acode number setting knob adapted to unlock the lock by alternaterotation of the knob in opposite directions and by thereby consecutivelysetting a rotatable graduated disc to predetermined numbers. In knowncombination locks the graduated disc and the setting knob form anintegral member. Left or right hand rotation of the knob turns thenumbers on the graduated disc past an index mark. Special attention mustbe paid to the number of times the predetermined number must be rotatedinto register with the index mark. This is not always easy to do.

Miscounts of the numbers of revolutions of the setting knob and/ orfailure to ensure that the index mark and the predetermined numberproperly register are nearly always to blame for failure of the lock toopen as expected. If these requirements are again not carefully observedwhen the operation is repeated the lock will still refuse to open.

It is the object of the present invention to eliminate this difficulty.

This object is attained according to the invention by providing acombination lock with a code number setting knob adapted to unlock thelock by alternate rotation of the knob in opposite directions and bythus consecutively setting a rotatable graduated disc to predeterminednumbers, which combination lock comprises means for operatively couplingthe setting knob with the graduated disc when the knob has been rotatedin the prescribed direction the prescribed number of times. Thesecoupling means may take various forms.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the coupling means areembodied in coupling pawls and entraining discs or rings whichsequentially entrain each other when the setting knob continues to beturned, until one of said entraining rings operatively engages thecoupling pawls connected with the graduated disc when the setting knobhas been rotated the prescribed number of times.

Conveniently the entraining rings as well as the graduated disc arerotatably mounted on the hub of the baseplate of the setting knob, thesetting knob itself being preferably rotatably mounted in the hub of thebaseplate of the setting knob.

The invention greatly facilitates setting and resetting the combinationlock without in any way reducing its safety and efiiciency. Thegraduated disc of the combination lock is not itself rotated in thedirection of to tation of the setting knob until the latter has beenrotated the required number of times for opening the lock. Rotation ofthe setting k-nob together with the graduated disc is then continueduntil the first number of the code registers with the index mark.

When this has been effected the setting knob is rotated in the contrarydirection until the graduated disc is entrained again. When the secondnumber of the code appears to be in register further rotation isstopped.

The knob is then again rotated in the first direction and the graduateddisc set to the third number of the code. Rotation in the oppositedirection will then open the lock. This procedure naturally applies to alock which operates by the selection of three numbers. If only two3,209,567 Patented Oct. 5, 1965 numbers are required the setting knobneed merely be rotated once in one and once in the opposite direction.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way ofexample and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the setting knob, entraining rings andcoupling pawls, shown at the instant of entrainment of the graduateddisc in one direction, the cover plate having been removed to reveal themechanism;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line IIH of FIG. 1 includingthe cover plate FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the setting knob,entraining rings and coupling pawls shown at the instant of entrainmentof the graduated disc in the contrary direction, the cover plate havingbeen removed to reveal the mechanism, and

FIGS. 4 to 11 are plan and corresponding side views of the individualentraining rings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a rotatable graduated disc b and a circular baseplate a with a central hub a Rotatably located in the hub a is aselector or setting knob c. This knob c has a radially extending portion0 which may form, as shown in the drawing, part of a cover with a lug 0which engages in a slot d in an entraining ring d rotatably mounted onthe hub a Therefore, when the knob c is turned to, the left, theentraining ring d will be forced to participate in this rotation by theengagement of the lug 0 with the slot d At the same time a lug d (FIGS.4 and 5) on the entraining ring at is carried against a tooth e (FIG. 6)on a second entraining ring 2 and carries this ring around with it.

At the end of a full revolution the lug d strikes and entrains a tooth 3(FIGS. 7 and 8) on a further ring f.

At the end of another full revolution a lug f, on the ring strikes atooth g (FIG. 9) on another ring g which is now likewise entrained.

At the end of yet another full revolution of the knob c a lug g on thering g strikes a tooth h (FIG. 11) of a ring h which is thus likewiseentrained. A tooth in on the ring h now raises a coupling pawl ipivotally mounted on disc b (FIGS. 1 and3) and, forces a tooth i thereoninto engagement with the tooth g of the ring g (FIG. 1,). Operativeconnection is thus established between the setting knob c and thegraduated disc b which therefore now participates in the. furtherrotation of the knob c. In the described case the knob c has been turnedthrough three complete revolutions so that the lock can be correctly setby stopping the graduated disc 12 at the first appropriate number.

The setting knob c is now turned in the opposite direction. Theextending portion 0 and the lug 0 again entrain the ring d. The lug d onthis latter ring now strikes a tooth e (FIG. 6) on the ring e and atooth f (FIG. 7) on the ring 1, entraining both rings.

As rotation of the setting knob c is continued, the lug f on the ring1'' strikes a tooth g on the ring g and, finally, the tooth g on thering g tilts a coupling pawl k pivotally mounted on disc b so that thetooth f is engaged by a tooth k, of the coupling pawl k (FIG. 3). Thisagain establishes operative connection in the opposite direction betweenthe setting knob c and the graduated disc b. Further rotation of thesetting knob c therefore entrains the graduated disc b. When the secondnumber of the code has been reached, rotation of the knob c is stopped.To this end the knob c has been rotated through one revolution less thanduring the previous rotation to the left.

For setting the third number, the knob c is again rotated in theopposite direction, i.e. to the left. The knob 0 again carries the tworings d and e with it to the left by means of its extending portion 0and the lug 0 The hookshaped tooth 2 now strikes the tooth k of thecoupling pawl k and causes operative connection to be establishedbetween the knob c and the graduated disc b, this disc b now beingentrained after only onerevolution of the knob c. The required number ofthe disc b is now turned into register with the index mark. A furtherrotation of the knob c to the right to its stop will now open thecombination lock.

The coupling pawls i and k are acted upon by pressure springs i and kFor resetting to the numbers of a different code the appropriate numbersare selected in similar sequence, the setting process being stopped atthe last number. A resetting key is then introduced into the combinationlock. Finally the new digits are set by turning the setting knobalternately left, right, left and then locking them with the resettingkey.

The number of reversals of the knob need not be counted. Theynecessarily arise when setting the lock for opening the same and whenresetting to different code numbers.

I claim:

1. In a combination lock with a code number setting knob adapted tounlock the lock by rotation of the knob a preselected number of fullrevolutions and then through a predetermined angle in a first directionand by then rotating the knob a preselected number of full revolutionsand through a predetermined angle in a direction opposite to said firstdirection, in combination, a support turnably supporting said settingknob and having a setting mark; a disc having graduations cooperatingwith said setting mark; and means for operatively coupling the graduateddisc with the knob when the knob has been turned in one of saiddirections the respective preselected number of full revolutions forsetting the additional preselected angle the knob has to be turned insaid one direction by aligning a predetermined graduation of the discwith said setting mark.

2. A lock according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means are couplingpawls connected with the graduated disc and entraining rings, saidentraining rings being arranged to entrain each other sequentially whenthe setting knob continues to be turned until one of said entrainingrings operatively engages the coupling pawls connected with thegraduated disc when the setting knob has been rotated the prescribednumber of times.

3. A lock according to claim 2, wherein said support includes a baseplate having a hub and wherein the entraining rings and the graduateddisc are rotatably mounted on the hub of the baseplate.

4. A lock according to claim 3, wherein the setting knob is mounted forrotation in the hub of the baseplate.

5. A lock according to claim 4, wherein the setting knob is formed withradially extending portion provided with a lug which engages in a slotin one of the entraining rings.

6. A lock according to claim 5, wherein said one entraining ring isformed with a lug adapted to make one-way contact with a tooth on asecond and on a third entraining ring when the knob is being turned inthe appropriate direction.

7. A lock according to claim 6, wherein the third entraining ringlikewise has a lug which makes entraining contact with a tooth on afourth entraining ring when the knob continues to be turned in the samedirection.

8. A lock according to claim 7, wherein the fourth entraining ringlikewise has a lug which makes entraining contact with a fifth ring whenthe knob continues to be turned in the same direction.

9. A lock according to claim 8, wherein said fifth ring is provided witha tooth engaging one coupling pawl to move the latter in a direction sothat a tooth on the fourth entraining ring makes entraining contact witha tooth of a coupling pawl, when the knob continues to be turned in thesame direction.

10. A lock according to claim 5, wherein said lug on said one entrainingring makes entraining one-way contact with a hook-shaped tooth on thesecond entraining ring and with a second tooth on the third entrainingring when the setting knob is turned in the contrary direction.

11. A lock according to claim 10, wherein the lug on the thirdentraining ring makes entraining contact with a second tooth on thefourth entraining ring when the setting knob continues to be turned inthe contrary direction.

12. A lock according to claim 10, wherein the second tooth on the thirdentraining ring is moved into entraining contact with a tooth on one ofthe coupling pawls.

13. A lock according to claim 10, wherein the hookshaped tooth of thesecond entraining ring makes entraining contact with a tooth on one ofthe coupling pawls when the knob is rotated in the first direction.

14. A lock according to claim 2, wherein the coupling pawls are loadedby springs.

No references cited.

ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A COMBINATION LOCK WITH A CODE NUMBER SETTING KNOB ADAPTED TOUNLOCK THE LOCK BY ROTATION OF THE KNOB A PRESELECTED NUMBER OF FULLREVOLUTIONS AND THEN THROUGH A PREDETERMINED ANGLE IN A FIRST DIRECTIONAND BY THEN ROTATING THE KNOB A PRESELECTED NUMBER OF FULL REVOLUTIONSAND THROUGH A PREDETERMINED ANGLE IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO SAID FIRSTDIRECTION, IN COMBINATION, A SUPPORT TURNABLY SUPPORTING SAID SETTINGKNOB AND HAVING A SETTING MARK; A DISC HAVING GRADUATIONS COOPERATINGWITH SAID SETTING MARK; AND MEANS FOR OPERATIVELY COUPLING THE GRADUATEDDISC WITH THE KNOB WHEN THE KNOB HAS BEEN TURNED IN ONE OF SAIDDIRECTIONS THE RESPECTIVELY PRESELECTED NUMBER OF FULL REVOLUTIONS FORSETTING THE ADDITIONAL PRESELECTED ANGLE THE KNOB HAS TO BE TURNED INSAID ONE DIRECTION BY ALIGNING A PREDETERMINED GRADUATION OF THE DISCWITH SAID SETTING MARK.